Steph Maher is the Technical Programme Manager, Product Engineering at ESO having joined the global tech-for-good healthcare data company in December 2024.
Steph is passionate about the importance of networking, attending industry events and participating in mentorship opportunities in order tohelp build valuable connections and stay up to date with sector insights and developments.
Steph tells Sync NI why joining ESO has been such a smooth transition and how coming to work every day has a real purpose.
Have you always had an interest in technology and was there a specific person or source of inspiration that led you into your current career path?
I didn't have a particular interest in technology growing up and I actually started out in my career bystudying a degree in Applied Maths and Physicsand then did an MBA. In a sense I fell into cyber after this – as Ijoined a financial derivatives firm working in software development. This was my first furore into working in technology - and I haven’t looked back since!
Whilst there wasno specific role modelin tech who served as my main source of inspiration growing up, I was working with an amazing group of people during this time who were so patient and helped me skill-up in something that was new to me. It was a brilliant place to start out in my tech career as I was exposed to real-world client problems, working alongside with them and delivering for them.
What would you consider to be the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of your job?
For me, one of the most important aspects is the continuous learning and development. Technology is moving so fast - things have moved on significantly for example since I graduated from university, with the move to Cloud technology, AI and more.
Everything continues to move, you're always learning. Having to keep this at the forefront of what you're doing is something I findreally enjoyable.
Working with such an incredible team also makes such a huge difference to your day-to-day. You spend a lot of time in work and I've been really lucky to work with an amazing group of people since I have joined ESO. Everyone has been so welcomingand have taken the time to sit down and fully explain their part of the business and how it works. This has made it such an easy and thoroughly enjoyable process to settle in here.
The ESO mission–to improve community safety through the power of data - is at the centre of everything that we do which makes coming to work have a real purpose.
In terms of career development, how important is it to build a professional network and attend industry events?
I am very passionate about the importance of having a really good network around you – I firmly believe it is so important. It's how you understand what opportunities are out there, what doors are open to you. It alsomeans your support network might think to send you links to opportunities to apply for that you might have missed as it is hard to keep up with everything in the sector at once, so it is great in this way if people know you are potentially interested in a new opportunity.
Very often in my career people have phoned me or sent me a link to an exciting opportunity when they have known I was interested in pursuing a new opportunity.
It is also extremely important for finding mentors and like-minded people who are willing to challenge and encourage you and I think these qualities are vital.
READ MORE: Tech Trailblazer: Jade Truffitt, Security Risk Manager at ESO Belfast
How much impact would you say a mentor can have on your personal development?
A mentor can have a huge impact on your personal development, I have had lots of amazing mentors over the years - both people that I've been working with and external to the organisations who were completely impartial.
It has been great to have people who have maybe been through what you've been through and be able to offer their advice, a unique perspective or sometimes, just give you that little confidence boost that how you are feeling is not unusual, with a few suggestions of different ways you could manage it. But it is also important for having that challenge and feedback as well, knowing when to ask if you are truly pushing yourself.
Mentors can be the perfect encouragement for helping you step outside of your comfort zone and trying something different.
What guidance would you offer to any young person on why they should consider a career in technology?
I would say, go for it! The technology industry continues to grow- it is now in every part of our lives and the demand for skilled professionals is as high as ever, leading to fantastic career opportunities within it.
I also think the range of career pathsis huge, if you think of the roles from software developments to cyber security, data science, artificial intelligence. There are so many different areas within techwhich allows for the opportunity to find what plays to your specific strengths and allow you to find your niche within what is quite a broad industry.
What advice would you give to women considering a career change or who are returning to work who might be daunted at the prospect of working ina male-dominated industry?
I would say, believe in yourself and trust that you've got the abilities.
For anyone wishing to pursue a career change, I would encourage them that you have gained invaluable transferable skills, strengths and abilities.Technology is moving so quicklythat actually, it is the core competencies that are really important. The ability to communicate, be creative, resilient and adapt to change to something that's constantly moving are all transferable skills which you can apply in tech.
For those who may not come from a STEM background, what other career opportunities exist within this sector beyond software engineering?
There are ample roles within tech which do not rely on a background in STEM – for example my own role in programme management is ideal for people who love to organise and get everything connected, and is the perfect fit for anyone who enjoys connecting the dots around the different areas required to drive a project forward.
Other examples include Technical Writers, where people witha Marketing background might be an ideal fit for this role. UX and UI designers may be someone coming from a creative arts background, and so many more examples.
But I would also strongly encourage people not to rule themselves out of software development because it is there as an option also for anyone wishing to learn.
For someone wishing to retrain as a software developer, there are so many opportunities to do so, with companies offering training programmes and academies and the local third level instituteslike Belfast Met who offer courses as well.
Within the tech sector, there are so many options available andaccessible whichever route you choose to pursue.
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